Knitting machine



Feb. 20, 1934. v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY 3 f ATI RNEY Feb. 20, 1934.

V. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27, 193 0 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ti E417 Ti :1. E. "ficpfi. F1114:

ATI'OR Feb. 20, 1934. v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Fild Sept. 27, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A Mm mm mm ATT NEY Feb. 20, 1934. v LOMBARD] 1,947,558

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WZWM BY ATI RNEY Feb. 20, 1934. v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 27. 1930 INVENTOR BY f Patented Feb. 20, 1934 KNITTING MACHINE Vincent Lombardi, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Lombardi Knitting Machine 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 2'7, 1930 Serial No. 484,724

25 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines, and, more particularly, to knitting machines embodying mechanism for imparting a pattem-controlled selective operation to needles or other knitting elements.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which is simple and sturdy in construction, which occupies a relatively small space, which will operate with a maximum of accuracy, which can be economically constructed and assembled, and which is particularly efiicient in operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved means for controlling the operation 16 of needles or other knitting elements in accordince with the dictates of a selective pattern-conrol.

Another object of the invention is to provide a particularly direct and positive mechanism for operating needles or other knitting elements in accordance with the dictates of pattern-control means.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a circular knitting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 1a is a fragmentary view showing a modifled form of drum-rotating means;

Fig. 2 is a reduced scale top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows the position of a setting element and a positioning element such as carried on the drum of Fig. 1 as the same approaches the advancing cam;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the elements in the position to which they are raised by the advancing cam;

Fig. 6 illustrates the operation of the cam for further advancing the positioning elements;

Fig. 7 shows the operation of the cam for re- 5 tracting the positioning elements;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of drum. and illustrating generally one type of pattern-control means;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic showing illustrating the operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

'Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic showing illustrating a slightly modified construction;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing a portion of a further modified form of machine;

Fig. 12 is a partly sectional'side view thereof; and

Fig. 13 is a somewhat fragmentary view showing generally the operation of a mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 11 in the actuation of sinkers.

In general, the invention contemplates the use of a pattern drum which moves along a knitting bed, and which in a circular machine revolves about the axis of a needle cylinder and which rotates on its own axis during such revolution or other movement relative to the knitting bed. This drum carries individually movable elements adapted selectively to position knitting needles, needle jacks, sinkers, beard pressers, or other knitting elements in accordance with settings imparted to such positioning elements; and means for readily and effectively setting such positioning elements and exercising their operation on th knitting elements are provided.

The form of the machine exemplified in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, comprises a needle bed 20, which, in the present instance, is cylindrical in shape and stationarily mounted, and .about which are disposed a plurality of needles 21 which, as exemplified, are of the latched type and are mounted in slots 22. Each needle is formed with a cam butt 23 intermediate its ends and with a selection or positioning butt 24 at its lower end. The cam butts on different needles may, of course, be differentiated, if desired. Adjacent the outer surface of the needle cylinder, and generally below the same, there is positioned a framework 25 arranged to revolve about the cylinder. On this framework there are disposed any suitable number of rotatable drums 26, one drum being ordinarily positioned for setting the needles prior to the reception of yarns from one of a plurality of revoluble yarn feeds such as are commonly used in this type of machine. The drum is formed with suitable means such as gearing 27, meshing with gearing 28 on a stationary cylindrical framepiece 29, for rotating the drum as the same revolves about the needle cylinder. The drum is slotted about its periphery to receive a series of cooperating movable elements whereby the selecrecess 38 adapted to receive an outwardly extending butt 39 on a longitudinally movable positioning element 40 and at the upper end of this recess the positioning member 35 carries an inwardly extending butt 41 overlying the butt 39. The members 35 and 40 thus have a relative longitudinal movement limited by the length of the recess 38.

The elements 40 are provided at their upper ends with butts 42, each of which is adaptedto slide below the butt 24 on one of the needles 21 as the drum 26 rotates in its revolution about the machine, it being noted in this connection,

that the number of needles carried by the cylinder is ordinarily a multiple of the number of positioning elements carried by the drum. Thus, if a. positioning element 40 is raised when its butt 42 is beneath the butt 24 on a needle, the needle will likewise be raised, and in order to efiect such raising of the positioning elements they are each provided intermediate their ends with a butt 43 adapted to be operated on by the upwardly and forwardly sloping surface of a cam 46 when the setting elements 40 are in raised position (as indicated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6), but to pass below the cam without being actuated thereby when the setting elements are in lowered position.

It will thus be apparent that when a given setting element 35 is raised it willraise its respective positioning element to a point where it will be further raised by a cam, such as 46, this cam being positioned, .as will be understood, to operate on the positioning element as the latter comes under a needle so that the further raising of a positioning element will act to raise the needle; and when a given setting element is lowered, it will lower its respective positioning element so that the latter will be unaffected by the cam.

In order to control theraising of the setting elements 35 in a selective manner there is provided a cam 48 adapted to act on a lower protruding portion 49 of the rockable element 36 when the element 49 is in protruded position; and in order to control the lowering of the setting elements, there is provided a cam 50 which acts on the upper protruding portion 51 of the rockable element 36 when the element 51 is in protruded position. It will thus be seen that when an element 36 is in the position shown in Fig. 4 or-in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the cam 48 will act to raise the corresponding setting element 35, and to raise its respective positioning element 40 to a point where the latter will be further raised by the cam 46 to actuate the needles.

With a view to controlling the position of the rocking elements 36, there are arranged in slots in the cylindrical member 29, which slots correspond to the needle slots 22, a series of longitudinally movable selectors 52, each having, in

the present instance, an outwardly extending butt member 53. These selectors are movable between the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. They may be of any desired number, and may be controlled by any desired type of pattern-control mechanism. If desired, the selectors may be arranged entirely about the circumference of the machine and may be controlled by suitable means, such for example, as the pattern-control mechanism shown in my Patent No. 1,687,132, issued October 9, 1928. Ordinarily, however, the number of selectors will be the same as the number of slots in the drum, and the selectors will be positioned only on one sector of the machine, in which case they may be operated by patterncontrol mechanism, such, for example, as shown in my Patent 1,737,597, issued December 3, 1929. Various other types of pattern-control mechanism, such, for example, as that shown in Fig. 8 may likewise be utilized, as will be readily apparent.

It.will be observed that once a rockable member 36, which has its lower portion 49 protruding from the slot, has been raised by the cam 48 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, it will remain in this position until it is rocked on its pivot, since the protruding member 51 is within the slot and will not be acted upon by the cam 50, so that the cam 46 will repeat its raising operation on the corresponding positioning element 40 at each rotation of the drum. When, however, a point designed to render the particular positioning element in question inoperative on its needles is reached in the pattern control mechanism, the control mechanism acts to move the corresponding selector '52 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1; whereupon, as the drum rotates adjacent the butt 53 on the selector the rocking element will be swung on its pivot, and when it reaches the cam 110 50 will be drawn downwardly so that its corresponding setting element 35 will pull the respective positioning element 40 downwardly to a point where the butt 43 on the latter is beneath the cam 46 so that no needles will be operated by such an element 40. Conversely, when the particular element 40 is to be rendered operative again, the corresponding selector 52 will be moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereupon the protruding element 51 will be pushed inwardly and the protruding element 49 pushed outwardly, so that the latter will again be acted upon by the cam 48.

It is to be observed that in the type of machine under consideration there is provided a control arrangement, wherein the selectors actuate the rocking elements at the same time as the positioning cam is operative upon the positioning element. This feature permits the provision of a particularly compact machine.

In order to secure an especially accurate and coordinated control of the rotation of the drum by the cylinder, the cylinder may be provided with butts meshing directly with the slots in the drum One such arrangement is shown in Fig. 1a, wherein the selectors 52 are provided with butt portions 54 which mesh with the slots 30' in a drum 26'. If only a relatively small number of selectors are required for pattern-control, dummy selectors may be arranged throughout the remainder of the periphery of themachine.

There is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 an arrangement wherein the axis of the drum is disposed at an angle to the axis of the cylinder so that the positioning elements on the drum will exert a needleraising action as a directresult of the drum rotation. As will be understood, Fig. 9 illustrates the apparatus somewhat diagrammatically, the drum being shown in vertical" ='.btion as if the same ments on its rear surface are seen. The exemplified machine includes a needle bed 60 carrying about its circumference needles 61 provided, in the present instance, with suitable cam butts 62 and selecting butts 63. Outside of the cylinder, and generally beneath the row of needles, is a revoluble member 64 carrying a drum 65 arranged to rotate on an upwardly and forwardly inclined axis, the rotation of the drum as it revolves being assured by suitable means, such as a gearing 66-67. In slots 68 in the drum there are disposed a series of positioning elements 69 each carrying a rockable element 70, these rockable elements being similar to the rockable elements 36. For raising and lowering these rockable elements there are provided a raising cam '71 and a lowering cam Z2; the action of these cams being similar to the action of the cams 48 and 50, respectively. As will be seen, in this case the setting mechanism for the positioning elements comprises rockable elements, but does not include setting elements such as shown in Fig. 1.

Each positioning element is formed at its upper end with a butt 73 which, when in raised position, rides over an arcuate guard member 73a carried by a framework connected with the member 64 and movable beneath the butts 63 on the needles. Thus the butts 72 which are positioned above the plane of the arcuate member contacts respectively with the respective butts 63 on the needles to lift the same, the arcuate member preventing the friction on the sides of the needle shanks from causing a depression of the positioning elements. When the positioning elements are lowered, on the other hand, the butts thereon ride under the arcuate member, and the butts 63 in the needles remain in position and clear the rear portion of the arcuate member without being actuated.

For setting the rockable elements, there is provided a series of selectors 74 similar to the selectors 52, and like them, adapted to be operated by any desired type of pattern-control means. One of many such types well adapted for this purpose is exemplified in Fig. 8, and comprises a pivoted lever '75 associated with each selector 74, and a plunger 76 for operating each lever. Each plunger is held normally in a forward position by a spring 77 and movable rearwardly by a lever '78 pivoted at '79 and having a notched prong 80 and a recessed prong 81. The notch in each prong 80 is adapted to receive one end of a rocking member 82, with a point portion 84 adapted to drop into any of a plurality of holes 85. in a cylinder 86 through perforations 87 in a pattern-control band 88, but only when such perforations occur in the band. The recess of the prong 81 of each lever '78 is adapted to receive a bar 89 which extends transversely of the prongs and is supported at its ends by arms 90 pivoted at '79 and carrying at their free ends a bar 91 adapted to be actuated by a cam member 92. The members are so arranged that a lever 78 is selectively adjusted (with resultant effect on the position of a selector) dependent upon whether a member 82 has dropped into a hole, so as to permit movement of the lever 78 to accommodate the end of the rocking member 82 in its notch. A cam 93 is provided to raise all of the selectors 74 for a new selective setting. In Fig. 9 there is exemplified a separating cam 94, a stitch cam 95, and a return cam 96 which may be of any usual type.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a drum wherein the arcuate element 73 is omitted and the raising cam is so positioned and extended as to replace the same. In this exemplification, a drum 65' carries positioning elements 69' having rockable elements '70. The raising cam 71 is positioned so that its forward cam surface will operate just before the butts 73 move under the lower butts on the needles, and the upper surface of the cam 71'- is extended to prevent the retraction of the raised positioning elements 69 until the needle-. raising action of the positioning elements is completed.

In Figs. 11 and 12 there is shown an arrangement wherein the positioning elements exert a transverse rather than a longitudinal lifting action upon the needles. In this exemplification there is shown a needle cylinder 100 carrying vertically movable needles 101 in slots 102. The exemplified needles are formed with the usual cam butts 103 and with positioning butts 104 at their lower ends. A drum-carrying framework 105 is arranged to revolve about the needle cylinder in a position generally beneath the same. This framework carries a drum 106 adapted to rotate on a horizontal axis as it revolves, and is formed with slots 107 in which horizontally slidable positioning elements 108 are contained. These positioning elements are adapted to be moved to a position wherein they will contact with the butts 104 on the needles as the drum rotates. These butts 104 are formed, in the present instance, with wide portions, as indicated in Fig. 12, so as to assure the proper contact with the adjacent ends of the positioning elements 108. Each positioning element carries a rockable element 109 similar to the rockable elements 36 and and adapted to be advanced and retracted, respectively, by advancing and retracting cams 110 and 111 similar to the cams 48 and 50, respectively, and to the cams '71 and '72, respectively, and to be rocked in accordance with the position of selectors 112 which may be similar to the selectors 52 and '74 and which may be operated by any suitable type of pattern-control means.

As will be readily apparent, when a positioning element 108 is in an advanced position, as indicated at 113, it will raise its respective needles, and when it is in a rearward position,.as indicated at 114, it will not affect the position of the needles.

It is to be understood that the invention is adapted to be utilized in the actuation of any knitting elements, whether needles, beard pressers, sinkers, needle or other jacks, or like elements, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the term knitting element as used herein is intended to embrace all members which are adapted to be selectively positioned to affect the knitting operation in any way; and it is also to be understood that mecha-' nism of any of the types exemplified, or of similar types as contemplated by the invention are adapted for use in the actuation of horizontally or otherwise movable knitting elements (for example, dial needles or cylinder sinkers), besides being adapted for the actuation of vertically movable knitting elements.

There is shown in Fig. 13 a device including a drum 116 carried by a framework 117 which is revoluble about a needle cylinder 118 and which is similar to the drum 106 and carries positioning elements 119 similar to the elements 108. These elements 119, in this instance, are arranged for the selective operation of sinkers 120 carried by the cylinder 118 in a manner which will be readily apparent from the foregoing description. It will be seen that the plurality of actuator means about the drum are similarly constructed with respect to each other, whether there is utilized a setting element 35 and a positioning element 40, or an element such as 69, 108, etc.

It will also be seen that, in each of the forms of construction illustrated, each positioning element contacts with a knitting element and imparts longitudinal movement to the knitting element; i. e. the knitting element 'is moved in the direction of its length by direct contact of thepositioning element carried by the'drum. 1

Since certain changes may be made in the and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a knitting machine, in combination, a knitting bed having a series of regularly-spaced individually movable knitting elements thereon, pattern control mechanism supported by means immovable with respect to said bed, a pattern drum movable with respect to said bed and said pattern-control mechanism and rotatable during such movement, a plurality of individually-movable positioning elements disposed about said drum and movable substantially axially but immovable radially thereof and spaced similarly to the spacing 01. said knitting elements, said drum being so positioned that said positioning elements selectively control the actuation of said knitting elements, and setting mechanism carried by said drum for selectively controlling the actuation of said positioning elements in accordance with the operation of said pattern mechanism, each selected positioning element being adapted to contact with a knitting element and to impart longitudinal movement thereto.

2. In-a knitting machine, in combination, a-

knitting bed having a series of regularly-spaced individually movable knitting elements thereon, a pattern ,drum movable with respect to said bed and rotatable during such movement, said drum'being positioned with one of its end adjacent said series 0L knitting elements, a plurality of uniformly-constructed-positioning elements disposed about said drum, each movable to a position wherein itwill affect the position of a knitting element as the rotation of the drum brings it in juxtaposition with the same, setting mechanism carried by said drum to control the actuation of said positioning elements in a selective manner, means to advance the selected positioning elements and the knitting elements therewith when the positioning elements are in operative relation with the knitting elements, said setting mechanism including a setting element individual to each positioning eement, said setting elements being all uniformly constructed, and pattern-controlled mechanism to regulate the operation of said setting mechanism.

3. In a knitting machine, in combination, a knitting bed having a series of regularly-spaced individually movable knitting elements thereon, a pattern drum movable with respect to said bed "and rotatable during such movement, said drum being positioned with one of its ends adjacent said series of knitting elements, a plu-- rality of positioning elements disposed about said drum, each movable to a position wherein it will affect the position of a knitting element as'the rotation of the drum brings it in juxtaposition with the same, setting mechanism carried by said drum to control the actuation of said positioning elements in a selective manner, means to,

advance the selected positioning elements and the knitting elements therewith when the positioning elements are in operative relation-with the knitting elements, said setting mechanism comprising a number of setting elements similar to the number of said positioning elements, each setting element being adapted to be moved in a direction similar to the direction of movement of the corresponding positioning element and to actuate the same, the movement of the positioning elements under the influence of said advancing means being inaffective to move said setting elements and pattern-controlled means to regulate the operation of said setting mechamsm.

4. In a knitting machine, in combination, a knitting bed having a series of regularly-spaced individually movable knitting elements thereon, a-pattcrn drum movable with respect to said bed and rotatable during such movement, said drum being positioned with one of its ends adjacentsaid series of knitting elements, a plurality of positioning ,elements disposed about said idrum, each movable to a position wherein it will atfect the position of a knitting element as the rotation of the drum brings it in juxtaposition with the same, setting mechanism carried by said drum to control the actuation of said positioning elements in a selective manner, means to advance the selected positioning elements and the knitting elements therewithwhen the positioning elements are in operative relation with the knitting elements, said setting mechanism comprising a number of setting elements similar to the number of said positioning elements, each setting element being adapted to be moved in a direction similar to the direction of movement of the corresponding positioning element and to actuate the same, there being a lost motion connection between each setting element and its corresponding positioning element, and patterncontrolled means to regulate the operation of said setting mechanism.

5. In a knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder having a series of regularlyspaced individually movable knitting elements thereon, a planetary pattern drum arranged to rotate on its own axis during the planetary relative movement of the cylinder and drum, a plurality of individually movable positioning elementsdisposed about said drum and arranged tively control the setting of said positioning ele- I ments, said controlling means including a plurality of selectors disposed along at least a portion of a-circle co-axial with said cylinder, the angle defined by adjacent selectors being the same as and pattem-controlled means for regulating the operation of said selectors.

6. In a knitting machine. in combination, a knitting bed having a series of regularly-spaced individually movable knitting elements there a the angle defined by adjacent knitting elements,

on, a pattern drum movable with respect to said bed and rotatable during such movement, a plurality of individually movable positioning elements carried by said drum and arranged to impart selective positioning movements to said knitting elements, each positioning element being arranged to actuate a knitting element or said series as the rotation of said drum brings the positioning element in line with the knitting element, a plurality of setting elements carried by said drum, each of said setting elements being arranged in endwise relationship to an individual one of said positioning elements and said settin elements being adapted selectively to control said positioning elements, means to effect a set of said setting elements in accordance with the pattemcontrolled actuation, the last mentioned means including selector elements carried by a member immovable with respect to said needle bed and pattern-controlled mechanism to regulate the actuation of said setting elements.

7. In a knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder having a series of regularlyspaced individually movable knitting elements thereon, a planetary pattern drum arranged to rotate on its own axis during planetary relative movement of the cylinder and drum, a plurality of individually movable positioning elements disposed about said drum and arranged to be brought into individual association with individual knitting elements of said series to actuate the same during the rotation of said drum, each of the positioning elements on said drum being of'the same construction as each of the other positioning elements thereon, means selectively to advance said positioning elements, and means to further advance the selected positioning elements in the same direction as each of the same moves into associated relationship with anassociated knitting element to cause the same to advance the knitting element therewith.

8. In a knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder having a. series of regularlyspaced individually movable knitting elements thereon, a planetary pattern drum arranged to rotate on its own axis during planetary relative movement of the cylinder and drum, a plurality of individually movable positioning elements disposed about said drum, setting mechanism carried by said drum for selectively advancing certain of said positioning elements to a position wherein a further advance will be transmitted to said knitting elements, means adapted to actuate said setting mechanism and including selectors carried in an arcuate slotted member having its center in line with the center of the needle cylinder, and pattern-controlled means for regulating the operation of selectors, and cam means to cause a further advance of the selected positioning elements as each or the same comes into associated relationship with a knitting element.

9. In a knitting machine, in combination, a

needle cylinder having a series of regularlyments to advance the same as'the rotation of the drum brings them into juxtaposition with corresponding ones of said knitting elements, andmeans to individually and selectively advance said positioning elements, said means including pattern-control mechanism supported by means immovable with respect to said needle cylinder.

10. In a knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder having a series of regularlyspaced individually movable knitting elements thereon, a planetary pattern drum arranged to rotate on its own axis duringplanetary relative movement of the cylinder and drum, the axis of said drum being disposed at a right angle to the direction of movement of said knitting elements, a plurality of uniformly-constructed individually movable positioning elements disposed about said drum and arranged, when in an advanced position, to contact with individual knitting elements to advance the same as the rotation of the drum brings them into juxtaposition with corresponding ones of said knitting elements, and means to individually and selectively advance said positioning elements, said means including pattem-control mechanism supported bymeans immovable with respect to said needle cylinder. 11.In a knitting machine, in combination, a knitting bed having a series 01 regularly-spaced individually movable knitting elements thereon, a pattern drum movable with respect to said bed and rotatable during such movement, said pattern drum having its axis disposed at an angle to the direction of movement of said knitting elements so that the portion of the periphery thereon adjacent said series of knitting elements will rise as it passes said series, a plurality oi uniformly-constructed individually movable positioning elements carried by said drum and adapted, when in raised position, to rise with the periphery of the drum so as to contact with and impart actuation to individual ones of said knitting elements, and mechanism for selectively regulating the raising of said positioning elements, said mechanism including pattern-con- 'trol means supported by means immovable with respect to said needle bed.

12. In a knitting machine, in combination, a knitting bed having a series of regularly-spaced individually movable knitting elements thereon, a pattern drum movable with respect to said bed and rotatable during such movement, said pattern drum having its axis disposed perpendicularly to thedirection of movement or saidknitting elements so that the portion of the periphery thereon adjacent said series of knitting elements will rise as it passes said series, a plurality oi. uniformly-constructed individually movable positioning elements carried by said drum and adapted, when in advanced position, to rise with the periphery of the drum so as to contact with and impart actuation to individual ones of said knitting elements, and mechanism for selectively regulating the advance oi. said positioning elements, said mechanism including pattem-control means supported by means immovable with respect to said needle bed.

13. In a knitting machine, in combination, a knitting bed having a series or regularly-spaced individually movable knitting elements thereon, a pattern drum movable with respect to said bed and rotatable during such movement, said pattern drum having its axis inclined toward those knitting elements of the series next to be acted upon by the drum so that the portion of the periphery thereon adjacent said series of knitting elements will rise as it passes said series, a plurality of individually movable positioning elements carried by said drum and adapted, when in raised position, to rise with the periphery of the drum so as to contact with and impart actuation to individual ones of said knitting elements, and pattern-controlled mechanism for selectively regulating the raising of said positioning elements, said mechanism including a plurality of selectorscarried in an arcuate slotted member having its center in line with the center of the needle cylinder.

14. In a knitting machine, in combination, a cylindrical member having an annular series of knitting elements thereon, a planetary pattern drum formed with longitudinal slots in its periphery, positioning elements slidably mounted in said slots and adapted to selectively position said knitting elements in accordance with a pattern-controlled setting, said cylindrical member being slotted adjacent the path of travel of said drum, an annular series of elements carried in said slots in said cylindrical member and having protruding portions adapted to enter the slots in said drum to cause the rotation of the drum on its own axis during its planetary action, and patterncontrolled mechanism for selectively setting said positioning elements, said pattern-controlled mechanism comprising those of said drum-rotating elements carried in at least one sector of the cylindrical member, the last mentioned elements being individually movable to act as selectors in the setting of said positioning elements.

15. In a knitting machine, in combination, a

knitting bed having a series of regularly-spaced,-

individually-movable knitting elements thereon, a pattern drum, said bed and said drum being relatively movable and said drum being rotatable during such relative movement, pattern-control mechanism supported by means immovable with respect to said bed, and control means carried by said drum and including a plurality of actuator being adapted to contact with a knitting element .and to impart longitudinal movement thereto.

16. In a knitting machine, in combination, a stationary needle cylinder having a series 01 regularly-spaced, individually-movable knitting elements thereon, a planetary pattern drum arranged to rotate on its own axis during its planetary movement, pattern-control mechanism supported by stationary means, control-means carried by said drum and including a plurality of actuator means disposed above the drum and spaced similarly to the spacing of said knitting elements, each of the actuator means on the drum being of the same construction as each of the other actuator means thereon and each actuator means including an individually-movable positioning element, said drum being so positioned that said positioning elements selectively con o during such relative movement, pattern-control mechanism supported by means immovable with respect to said bed, control means carried by said drum and including a plurality of actuator means disposed about the drum and spaced simi- .larly to the spacing of said knitting elements, each of the actuator means on the drum being of the same construction'as each of the other actuator means thereon and each actuator means including an individually-movable positioning element, said drum being so positioned that said positioning elements selectively control the actuation of' said knitting elements, and said pattern-control mechanism and said drum being arranged so that the pattern-control mechanism will individually and selectively control the selection of said positioning elements, and means to advance selected ones of said positioning elements, the positioning element included in each selected actuator means being adapted to contact with a knitting element and to impart longitudinal movement thereto.

18. In a knitting machine, in combination, a knitting bed having a series of regularly-spaced, individually-movable knitting elements thereon, a pattern drum, said bed and said drum being relatively movable and said drum being rotatable during such relative movement, pattern-control mechanism supported by means immovable with respect to said bed, control means carried by said drum and including a plurality of actuator means disposed about the drum and spaced similarly to the spacing 01' said knitting elements, each of the actuator means on the drum being of the same constructionas each of the other actuator means thereon and each actuator means including a positioning element individually movable to a position wherein it will affect the position of a knitting-element as the rotation of the drum brings it into juxtaposition with the same, and means to advance selected positioning elements and the knitting elements therewith when the positioning elements are in operative relation with the knitting elements respectively, eachactuator means including also a setting element, said pattern-control mechanism and said drum being arranged so that the pattern-control mechanism will individually and selectively control the operation of said setting elements.

19. In a knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder, a series of needles carried thereby, a planetary pattern drum, a plurality of positioning elements carried by said drum, means selectively to move said positioning elements to advanced positions, said means including a plurality of setting elements carried on said drum and each individual to an individual positioning element, means to move the selected positioning elements to a further advanced position to cause them to contact with respective needles on said cylinder without movement of the setting elements i dividual thereto, the direction of move- 150 rality of setting elements carried on said drum and each individual to an individual positioning element, means to move the selected positioning elements to a further advanced position to cause them to contact with respective needles on said cylinder, the direction of movement of an individual setting element, its associated positioning element and a needle acted upon being similar, and pattern-control means for regulating the operation of said setting elements, there being a lost-motion connection between each setting element and its associated positioning element.

21. In a knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder, a series of knitting elements arranged thereabout, a pattern drum, a support therefor, means to cause relative movement of the needle cylinder and of said support upon a central axis, means to cause rotation of the pattern drum upon its own axis during such relative movement, the axis of rotation of the pattern dnun and the axis of relative movement being parallel, a plurality of knitting elements carried by the needle cylinder and movable in a direction parallel to said axes, a plurality of positioning elements carried by said drum, means selectively to move said positioning elements in a direction parallel to said axes to advanced positions, means to move the selected positioning elements to a further advanced position to cause them to con tact with and impart a similar movement to said knitting elements, said selecting means comprising a plurality of setting elements each individual to an individual positioning element and each movable in a similar direction, each setting element being arranged to permit movement of its respective positioning element without movement of the setting element, and means for setting said setting elements, said setting means comprising a plurality of selectors carried by said needle cylinder and individual to said setting elements, the direction of movement of said setting elements and said selectors also being parallel to said axes, and pattem-controlled means for regulating the operation of said selectors.

22. In a knitting nTachine, in combination, a needle bed having a series of regularly-spaced individually-movable knitting elements thereon, a pattern drum movable with respect to said bed and rotatable on. an axis parallel to the direction of movement of said knitting elements during the movement of the drum, a plurality of uniformly-constructed positioning elements disposed about said drum and movable individually in said direction, said positioning elements being spaced similarly to the spacing of said knitting elements and being adapted to be moved into alignment with the same during rotation of said drum, and means to cause said positioning elements to selectively actuate said knitting elements, said means including setting elements individual to said positioning elements and mounted on said drum for movement in a similar direction to the positioning elements and having a lost-motion connection therewith for selectively setting sa ositioning elements in a position such that immidual ones thereof will or will not actuate said knitting elements when in such alignment, and pattern mechanism for selectively controlling the actuation of said means.

23. In a'knitting machine, in combination, a needle bed having a series of regularly-spaced individually-movable knitting elements thereon, a pattern drum movable with respect to said bed and rotatable on an axis parallel with the direction of movement of said knitting elements during the movement of the drum, a plurality of uniformly-constructed positioning elements disposed about said drum and movable individually in said direction, said positioning elements being spaced similarly to the spacing of said knitting elements and being movable into alignment with the same during rotation of said drum, butts carried by said positioning elements, a cam adapted to operate on the "butts of selected positioning elements when in such alignment, and means to individually set individual ones of said positioning elements, said means comprising setting elements individual to said positioning elements and mounted on said drum for movement in a similar direction to the positioning elements and having a lost-motion connection therewith for selectively setting said positioning elements in a position such that individual ones thereof will or will not be acted on by said cam, and pattern mechanism for selectively controlling the actuation of said means.

24. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a circular needle-bed, a series of knitting elements carried ther by, a planetary pattern drum, a plurality of positioning elements mounted thereon, each of the positioning elements being similar to each of the other positioning elements on the drum, said knitting elements and said positioning elements being mounted for movement only in the same direction and each of said positioning elements being arranged to. contact with a knitting element and to move it in said direction during the rotation of said drum, and pattern-control mechanism for controlling the operation of said positioning elements.

25. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder, a series of knitting elements carried thereby, a planetary pattern drum 9 rotatable on an axis parallel to the axis of said cylinder, a plurality of positioning elements mounted thereon for movement in a direction parallel to said axes, each of said positioning elements being similar to each of the other positioning elements on the drum, and each of said positioning elements being arranged to contact with a knitting element and to move it in a direction parallel to said axes during the rotation of said drum, and pattern-control mechanism supported by means immovable with respect to said cylinder. for controlling the operation of said positioning elements, said pattern-controlmechanism including a plurality of selectors each arranged for the selective control of the actuation of an individual positioning element.

VINCENT LOMBARDI.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No 1,947. 558. February 20, 1934.

VINCENT L OMBARDL it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 6, line 68, claim 16, for "above" read about; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that'the-same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of May, A. 1). 1934.

Bryan M. 'Battey (Seal) v Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

